PHOTO GEAR

While camera equipment itself does not take pictures -- photographers do that -- I am frequently asked as to what equipment I use.  Here is a listing of my currently used gear.  Don't go out and duplicate this list; buy the equipment you need to take the photographs you like.  

But be careful.  Let me quote my friend Jack Dykinga: "Cameras and lenses are simply tools to place our unique vision on film.  Concentrate on equipment and you'll take technically good photographs. Concentrate on seeing the light's magic colors and your images will stir the soul."

I use a Lowepro Pro Trekker photo backpack to carry equipment in the field.  This large pack has the best harness and strap system of any backpack on the market, consequently it's comfortable to carry all day in the field.  It's also a legal carry-on for airline travel within the US if you remove the outside pockets.  When I'm working strictly from my vehicle I keep some gear in an ancient shoulder bag and transfer equipment as needed to the Lowepro.  For international travel I use the Airport Acceleration pack and Airport Checkin briefcase from Think Tank Photo.

Here's what I currently use:

Camera bodies:

Two Nikon D3 bodies 

Lenses and filters (all Nikon):

17-35mm f2.8

28-70mm f2.8

85mm f2.8 PC Tilt/Shift

70-200mm f2.8 AF-S

200-400mm f4 AF-S

600mm f4 AF-S

Nikon teleconverters

Nikon circular polarizing filters

Accessories:

Nikon SB-800 flash units + off-camera cord

Walt Anderson's Better Beamer flash extender

Nikon remote releases

Photoflex LiteDisc diffusers and reflectors

Macro:

I use a Nikon 200mm f4 AF Micro, occasionally adding a 5T or 6T Nikon closeup filter, or my Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 with a closeup filter.

Tripods:

I normally photograph from a tripod.  The number of handheld photos I take per year, aside from total flash shots, is miniscule.  My standard tripod is a Gitzo 1325 carbon fiber model with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head complete with an Arca-style quick release (all cameras and lenses have quick-release plates mounted on them).  I use a Gitzo 1321 leveling base between the ball head and my tripod to facilitate my panoramic work.  For long lens action photography with my 600mm I switch to a Wimberley head.  In East Africa I often use a Molar bean bag from Vertex Photographic.

Links:

For the latest Nikon information visit www.nikon.com.

Contact Lowepro at www.lowepro.com.

Think Tank Photo is at www.thinktankphoto.com.

Gitzo tripods are at www.gitzo.com.

See www.reallyrightstuff.com for the BH-55 ball head.

The Flash Extender is available from Kirk Enterprises, www.kirkphoto.com.

For downloading images and renaming image files I use Downloader Pro, www.breezesys.com.

To quickly browse images my choice is BreezeBrowswer Pro, www.breezesys.com.

I use iViewMediaPro to catalog all my digital files, www.iview-multimedia.com.

Vertex Photographic is at www.vertexphoto.com.